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She's twenty-three, and this is Audrey's first visit to the Rose Bowers. A two week stay, complimentary through her government job on Arcbright. She's alone.
She's heard stories of the Rose Bowers, of the unrestrained hedonism that's its stock in trade, and its matchmaking, which is reputed to be excellent.
She comes in with trepidation in her heart. Her suitcase rattles as it bumps over the threshold.
This suits Audrey just fine, actually! She's a slight girl.
"Gardens?", she asks.
Eva nods, cleaning her greasy fingers off on a napkin. "Garden. Would you like to hold hands?"
Eva gets up and offers her hand to Audrey. "Here you are, then."
Eva leads her from the club, and out into a silvery, starlit garden full of perfumed blossoms.
"So, dove. What brought you here, and not to somewhere else? I'm sure you could have chosen SenseFest or somewhere else."
"The Rose Bowers got the best reviews?" She halfsmiles. "I'd rather not -"
She pauses. "... no, it's not that big a deal. I was a virgin. I wanted to not be one. Simple as that."
Eva leads her across a stream on a small stone bridge.
"So, how did you end up losing it, may I ask?"
"To my alt, actually. Who was also a virgin. It was really quite a coincidence we were there to fix each other's problems like that."
"Doubly lucky, huh? I suspect the Bowers at work there. You should ask your alt how she got here."
Eva smiles, and doesn't say anything.
They pass a small gazebo with soft cushions and pillows inside.
"It's the Rose Bowers, darling. Of course it is. The roads diverge to give privacy when need be."
"Space is a bit fluid, in the Rose Bowers. You go where you intend to, not where the geometry says. And sometimes you find another pretty little gazebo when you're looking for a particular one."
"Some people find it a little spooky but personally I just think it's convenient. I don't want to stumble on another couple in flagrante delicto most of the time."
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